Slacker America

22.5 million Americans – an utterly staggering number – now work for federal, state, and local
government. Stephen Moore, in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, wrote that there are now
twice as many people working for government than for manufacturers, and that more people
now work for government than for several basic industries combined. Unfortunately, his
excellent column failed to identify the most prominent reasons for this dismal situation.

Why do college graduates now seek jobs in government instead of private industry? It has
largely to do with lack of ambition. Why take the risks inherent in the private sector when you
can have a position that is virtually immune from layoffs, and for which you get vacations, sick
days, health insurance, pensions, and every holiday on the calendar including imagined ones?
Why accept a job requiring effort and productivity when you can get a government job in which
your compensation and benefits have absolutely nothing to do with your performance? In
fact, you may actually be discouraged from working too hard because it would embarrass your
colleagues. Additionally, there is almost nothing that can cause you to be fired! So why take
any risks in the private sector?

Ironically, the government then tries to force these same preposterous work rules onto the
private sector – so that government doesn’t appear out of step with private industry.

The fact is that there is just too much government. Government now employs 16% of the
current work force, amounting to 138.9 million people. That means that 116.4 million private-
sector workers support this country of 308 million people. Government workers don’t help
support the rest of us because the taxes they pay are just a reduction of the amount we pay
them. They are just a drag on the private economy that needs to support them.

This economic model cannot sustain itself – especially with the current work ethic. When an
ever smaller group of people is asked to support the rest of us, while the government hands
out lavish employee benefits that far outstrip those found in the private sector, it’s no wonder
that young people quickly conclude that a public-sector job is the perfect fit for their slacker
attitudes.

While there are certainly exceptions, it seems that the generation now entering the workforce
has been raised on the idea that hard work should take a back seat to lifestyle. They have seen
– and sheepishly accepted – an ever-growing government sector making decisions for them. At
this rate, there will soon not be enough private sector employees to support the government
workers, the retired people, and the children of this society.

If we don’t change our current trajectory – and quickly! – then the next time my young
Colombian friend comes to America, he will ask: “What the heck happened to this country?”